A total of ten coral species are reported from the Capo Rizzuto (Calabria) Marine Protected Area on the Ionian coast of Italy. Two species, Polycyathus muellerae and Paracyathus pulchellus, are new records for the Ionian Sea, a finding that expands their current known distribution range. Eight species are new records for the Ionian coast of Italy. Another species, Astroides calycularis, was identified from a photograph taken in the area, but its presence was not confirmed in the field. The solitary zooxanthellate coral Balanophyllia europaea was found associated with the yellow encrusting coralline alga, Lithophyllum pustulatum, which represents a novel observation requiring further investigation.

Gametogenesis and reproductive periodicity of the solitary scleractinians Flabellum alabastrum (from the Rockall Trough) and F. angulare (from the Porcupine Seabight) were investigated. Samples were collected between depths from 1370 to 2190 m for F. alabastrum and 2412 to 2467 m for F. angulare. Both species showed gonochorism with a 1:1 sex-ratio and broadcast spawning of gametes is inferred from the lack of brooded planulae. Oocyte sizes were large in both species (925 μm in F. alabastrum and 1015 μm in F. angulare), suggesting lecithotrophic larval development. Fecundity and periodicity of oocyte development differed between the two species. Flabellum alabastrum produced a maximum of 2800 oocytes per polyp quasi-continuously, whereas the deeper species F. angulare produced a maximum of 550 oocytes per polyp either seasonally or periodically. Both species showed size-dependent fecundity. The data show a decrease in oocyte size and fecundity with depth, in concordance with other deep-water scleractinian species.